Closing Schools Due to Bad Weather During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather.  Information regarding details of cancellations or closures will be announced on radio and television stations listed below and posted at www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca. Information will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146. 

One of the following messages will be announced (highlighted text only): Peel District School Board buses are cancelled.  This means that schools remain open for students and staff, but buses are cancelled. Bus cancellations could occur in all or parts of municipalities. Buses will remain cancelled all day. All activities that require bussing will also be cancelled. Permits, night school classes, child care and other activities in schools will operate as usual.  All Peel District School Board schools and board offices are closed.  This means that all schools and Board offices are closed to students and staff. All activities in schools and board offices are also cancelled, including child care, night school and permits. All evening programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled.  This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed. All weekend programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled.  This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed. 

CFNY FM102.1/AM640 FM93.1  GLOBAL NEWS

CFRB AM1010 CFTR AM680  FM Q107 

FM Z103.5 EZ ROCK FM97.3  CJCL AM590 

CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CHFI FM98.1  CTV

CHUM AM1050 CJBC (FR) AM860  GLOBAL NEWS

VIRGIN RADIO FM99.9 CBC99.1  CITYPULSE

CFNY FM102.1/AM640 FM93.1 

Help Your Family Stay Warm This Winter

Canada Safety Council recommends the following tips for staying comfortable and preventing hypothermia when working or playing outdoors: • Wear a warm hat—most body heat is lost through the head. • Children should keep an extra hat at school.• Wear layered clothing. Layers allow warm air to stay trapped around

the body.• Protect your feet and hands. Wear loose waterproof boots. If the boots

have liners, carry an extra pair to replace damp ones or take an extra pair of socks. Invest in thick socks to keep your feet warm. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Carry an extra pair of mittens to school, on outings, etc.

• Prevent dehydration and exhaustion, which can lead to hypothermia. Drink plenty of fluids and pace yourself when doing vigorous activities.

• Stay fit by exercising and eating well—people who are fit are less susceptible to hypothermia.

• If you stay indoors, avoid moving from a hot environment to a cold one. Excessive sweating caused from an extreme change in temperature increases the risk of developing hypothermia.

• Eat high-energy food such as nuts and raisins. A balanced diet will also help keep you warm and healthy in the winter. 

• If you are travelling (on the road or in the wilderness) carry emergency supplies.

Winter bus safety The following winter school bus safety tips will help to keep your child safe throughout the winter months. • Allow extra time to get to your bus stop.• Wear bright clothing so the bus can see you in the early morning and

late evening.• Stand away from where the bus stops. Buses need extra room to stop when

there is snow and ice.• Use the handrail when boarding or exiting the bus to prevent slipping on wet

or icy steps or road surfaces.• Dress properly—winter clothing, hats, and boots will keep you warm.• Don't throw snowballs at the bus or other children waiting for the bus.• Don't slide on the snow or ice patches in driveways or on the street. • Don't push or shove around the bus. Someone could fall down on the ice and

get hurt. On very rare occasions, buses are late because of weather conditions or mechanical problems. Talk to your child about what to do if the bus is late. Here are some suggestions: • When possible, wait with your child for the bus.• Make sure your child knows a phone number where he can reach you or

another trusted adult. • Teach your child how and where to get help. Talk to your child about what a

"safe" stranger is. • Help your child set up a bus stop buddy system so your child has someone to

wait with for the bus.

Apply for French Immersion by Jan. 29, 2016 If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2016, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to consider French Immersion (FI). To find out more about the program, visit www.peelschools.org/French  The application form for grade 1 FI for the 2016-17 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Monday, Nov. 23, 2015 at 1 p.m. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 29, 2016 at 4 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will not be included in the random selection process and will be placed on the school’s waitlist. The FI school for our area is Russell D. Barber Public School. Their phone number is 905-455-7177.  Enrolment Cap and Random Selection Process  As there is a grade 1 FI enrolment cap in place, there are a limited number of spots available for students entering the program. The cap is set at 25 per cent of all Peel students enrolled in grade 1. Spots are not assigned on a first come, first served basis. A random selection (lottery) process is used to identify students gaining entrance into the grade 1 FI program.  All students who apply by the deadline will be assigned a rank using a computerized random selection process. Once students have been assigned to all available spots, remaining students will be placed, again in rank order, on the school's waitlist. Each school has its own waitlist.  How to get more information Visit the Peel board website—www.peelschools.org/FrenchCall Russell D. Barber Public School at 905-455-7177.Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/

Special Technology Offers for Peel Board Students, Parents and Staff

Does your child need a computer or tablet for school? Equity of access to technology is a key priority for the Peel board. That's why we've worked with a number of technology companies to offer discounted devices to Peel families and staff. 

Renewed Computer Technology (RCT) offers low-cost, quality refurbished computers to families with a low-income. Qualified applicants can purchase:•desktop for $60 •laptop for $150Prices include software, a two-year warranty and tax. For more information, contact RCT directly:  call 905-795-0627 or visit their website at www.rcto.ca.  

Peel families now have access to the following exclusive offers from VIG Solutions:Intel Dual Core, 2GB, 160GB computer with a 17-inch LCD monitor -- $11010-inch netbook with 1GB ram, 160GB hard drive, Wi-Fi capability and Windows 7 -- $60. Taxes and shipping will be applied to product costs, and all items come with a six-month warranty. To purchase products, visit www.refurbitstock.ca/peel and enter peelregion before proceeding.

Microsoft Microsoft offers reduced pricing on 

select products. For more information, visit http://pdsb.me/1X2RtMF. The Peel board’s initiatives are part of the ongoing effort to create greater equity of access to technology for Peel students, parents and staff and do not represent an endorsement of any company or product. For all BYOD information, visit www.peelschools.org/aboutus/21stcentury/byod. 

Time for School - A Parent’s Guide to Regular School Attendance Elementary school is a wonderful time in the life of a child, a time of great strides in learning and in social and emotional development. Many things affect your child’s success, from the quality of his or her teachers, to the makeup of the class. One of the most important factors is your child’s regular and timely attendance. Getting to class on time, and avoiding absences, are critical if your child is to get the most out of school. It seems obvious. But the fact is that elementary students tend to miss and average of eight or more school days during the year. What can you as a parent do to help ensure your child’s proper attendance? 

Is your child missing more? Why does attendance matter? First, understand that getting to school–every day and on time–matters at every level, perhaps even more so in elementary school. That’s because important learning occurs daily, right from the start of class. And because you establish patterns early on. By being punctual and responsible, children are acquiring positive habits about school attendance. Some other things to consider: By being late, children miss important social time with their peers before school begins. Students who are late often feel embarrassed or self-conscious. Late arrivals can disrupt the routine of the classroom. A last-minute rush can be stressful for the child, and get her to school in the wrong frame of mind. Missing even five or 10 minutes of the day can make it harder for the student to understand the material being taught. Frequent absenteeism leads to gaps in a child’s skills and knowledge base, cause the child to fall behind his peers and hurt his self-esteem.

Too many missed school days can increase isolation, as the child stands out from her classmates and misses opportunities to develop socially. Absenteeism makes it tougherfor the child to develop a good rapport with the teachers.

When Time is Ticking 

Few homes run like clockwork. The morning routine, especially, can be a mad scramble. But there are effective strategies for getting your little one up and out the door on time. Get your child to bed at a reasonable hour.

• Set realistic and consistent schedules and rules at home. Getting ready for school should be part of the child’s overall routine, something that’s expected of him every day.

• The night before school, do whatever is necessary to shave time in the morning, such as setting out clothes, packing lunch, and setting schoolbags at

• the door.• Have a set morning routine that the child can easily follow

i.e washing hands and face, going to the bathroom, dressing, • making the bed, brushing teeth, and eating a healthy • breakfast.• Avoid any distractions that can slow the child down, like TV • or games.• If you’re running late regularly, set your alarm to get up • earlier.

IS IT A SICK DAY? Children do get sick sometimes – they are still developing natural resistance to certain infections, their  hygiene behaviours are still developing and germs spread more easily in a classroom. So some missed school is unavoidable, for the child’s own well-being, and the protection of her classmates. 

But there are ways to cut down on sick days.  Teach your child about proper hand-washing, after going to the bathroom, playing outside or wiping his nose.  Follow other healthy habits, from eating nutritious food to getting enough sleep.

Some symptoms make school attendance uncomfortable, like a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. But if you’re unsure whether your child is sick enough to miss school, talk to your doctor.  Some children pretend to be sick to avoid school. Ask yourself is the child’s symptoms are vague, (i.e. a headache, upset stomach, fatigue), if your child tends to miraculouslyrecover just after school starts or ends, or if the illness is happening during stressful times at school or at home. Allowing your child to remain home when there’s no real illness sets a bad pattern. If you decide to keep your child home, inform the school and keep the child in bed or doing quiet, low-key activities. A day off from school shouldn’t be a holiday, it should be a time to recuperate from illness, so the child can return as soon as possible.

Set the right exampleChildren follow the lead of their parents. If you place an importance on regular and prompt school attendance, so will your child. Show interest in your child’s education by asking about the school day, celebrating school successes, attending school events and parent-teacher interviews, volunteering at school, and communicating with your child’s teacher. The more you value school, the more your child will.  Provide a home environment that encourages learning and curiosity.  

Treat the school hours with respect. If you have to make an appointment for your child, arrange it before or after school or, if that’s not possible, at the very beginning or end of the day.  When it comes to planning family trips, some parents will factor in the schedule in the higher grades, but think little of pulling their child out of school. If anything, younger students can be affected more when they miss an extended period, finding it tough to relearn classroom routines and re-join their peer group. Learning is cumulative, building on the skills and concepts that were introduced before. And this process is on-going. Family trips can be wonderful learning experiences themselves. But if they must occur during the school year, please save them for scheduled breaks.

If your child resists going to school, for no apparent reason, talk to him or her about any possible problems with the school, teacher or other kids. However, don’t give in to coaxing, pleading or threatening and keep the child at home. That creates a bad precedent. Need more information? If you have any questions regarding any of the issues raised here about lateness or attendance, or if you’re looking for other tips on getting your child to school, please talk to us. By working together, we can help support a more successful school experience for your child. Visit our website at www.peelschools.org.

Subscribe to Receive News from the Peel Board Take advantage of our electronic subscription service to automatically receive updates from the Peel District School Board. Subscribing is easy just visit our website at www.peelschools.org and click on the subscription link under "Quick Links."  During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather. Information regarding details of cancellations or closures will be posted at www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca.  You can also subscribe to receive:

News releasesKeep up with the news at the Peel board. Subscribe to receive Peel board news releases to learn more about board news and school events.Board agendasLearn more about Peel board meetings by subscribing to receive agendas. Meetings of the board are open to the public and are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.Board highlightsBriefing is a newsletter with highlights of decisions made by trustees at board meetings. It is sent out on the second and fourth Thursday of every month and immediately following any special board meetings.Job postings for non-teaching staffLearn about each new non-teaching job that is posted on the Peel board's Job Board.

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Follow @Peelschools on Twitter to:•learn about our schools and programs•find out if buses are cancelled during bad •weather•share the Peel smile